The Pros And Cons Of Cochlear Implants

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Imagine not being able to hear anything - living in silence your whole life. If you were given the chance to be able to hear sound for the first time would you take it? What if that chance involved having an invasive surgery that more than likely will not allow you to hear anything besides hazy sounds and voices that cut in and out? The idea of cochlear implants began in the 18th century. A scientist named Alessandro Volta was the first to provoke the hearing system. He connected a fifty volt battery to two metal rods and he put the rods in his ears. When they were connected he felt something in his head akin to a boom and immediately after he said he heard a sound like boiling soup. People tried to investigate this phenomenon for the next …show more content…
In Utah there is a seven year old girl whom her doctor suggested get bilateral cochlear implants. Her insurance company reluctantly covered the price of just one. As stated in the article, the cost of one cochlear implant is $45000 dollars. The father of the girl said “he would have to sell his business and his house and move out of state” to be able to afford the implant. $45000 dollars is a little over half of an average american’s salary. According to the insurance company, “Cost increases, even a slight percentage, can make coverage unaffordable for others.” Also according to the company’s implant policy, “SelectHealth does not cover bilateral cochlear implantation. This meets the plan's definition of investigational/experimental” (Yeates). Besides the cost of paying for the initial cochlear implant, there are also future costs associated. If your cochlear implants get damaged, they will need to be repaired or replaced and then there is also maintenance that will need to be done. Also there are the costs of what comes after you get cochlear implants surgically installed. Many years of vocal therapy is necessary for a person to develop an intelligible speaking voice. You could save a lot of money by not getting cochlear …show more content…
They think learning sign language delays language acquisition when it comes to learning speech. Well in fact it is the opposite. There is a phenomenon called baby sign language. There are several benefits to baby sign language. It has been shown babies who use it speak earlier than their counterparts. The babies have improved moods and better behavior - not so many tantrums and not so much crying because they are unable to communicate to their parents their wants and needs. Babies cannot use intelligible speech for a couple years; that is why parents should teach their children baby sign language. Babies as young as six months can start learning signs. No younger than six months though because about six months is when babies start holding their parents gazes for more than a few seconds. While not all babies will respond to signs, most will and it’s a very good tool because they can communicate their needs, wants, and desires and it eliminates the guesswork for parents which is what usually results in the crying and tantrums because the child is not getting what it needs or wants. Relationships between child and parent are also improved and “research confirm the baby’s vocabulary and mental development is increased by signing.” “Some psychological benefits of baby sign language are improved confidence and self - esteem” (Collingwood). An example of a person
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